Around Padern Castle

Park on the riverside in the large car park. Easy parking opposite the Verdouble (river).

(S/E) Cross the road and head up Rue du Cers on the right. After a few houses, on the right, there is a sign pointing to the castle and the chapel. Take the small steps leading to the Chapelle Saint-Roch.

(1) Continue by turning left at the chapel onto the path that leads past the castle ruins, where a sign informs you that climbing on the ruins is prohibited (risk of falling rocks).

(2) From this sign, take the small path on the left which climbs steeply through the forest and joins a forest track.

(3) Turn left onto it and head uphill through the pine forest, then descend gently. Ignore the yellow-marked path on your right and continue straight ahead along the forest track, which winds down in several hairpin bends towards the village. Continue along the tarmac road leading to the village.

(4) Walk through the village. At the Fork in the road, head down to the right along Rue Sainte-Cécile, which leads onto the main road.

(5) Carry on straight ahead along Rue du Confluent (D14), which takes you back to the starting point (S/E).

The GR®367 links several Cathar castles: Queribus, Peyrepertuse, etc.